Attorney Alexander Floyd Ransom's Legal Cases

Criminal defense

Assault Fourth Degree Domestic Violence #CB893**

Dec 02, 2014

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Client charged with Assault Fourth Degree Domestic Violence (DV) under RCW 9A.36.041 following an altercation with her significant other. Allegedly, client was mentally and physically abusive toward th ... e victim and tried preventing the victim from leaving her home. We claimed Self-Defense and the Necessity defense. Our story was that the victim was highly intoxicated, argumentative, physically abusive and tried to drive home drunk. After extensive interviews with the victim and witnesses, the City offered to dismiss the case if client completed a DV evaluation and treatment. Fortunately, client obtained a favorable evaluation and completed an 8-session DV treatment program. The City dismissed the case as agreed. Client successfully avoided a criminal conviction, jail, court fines, firearms restrictions, and probation. Also, the judge rescinded the no-contact order.

Criminal defense

Shoplifting #CB917**

Dec 02, 2014

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Client was charged as an accomplice to Shoplifting under BMC 10.12.020. The co-defendant entered a grocery store, grabbed a box of wine, departed the store without paying and walked to client's car. Cl ... ient drove away unaware that co-defendant committed a crime. I engaged favorable negotiations with Prosecutor. We agreed to enter a Deferred Sentence allowing dismissal of the charges after one year of law-abiding behavior.

Criminal defense

Reckless Driving #4Z5684**

Aug 26, 2014

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Client charged with RCW 46.51.500 Reckless Driving following a traffic accident. This is a gross misdemeanor punishable up to 1 year in jail, $5,000.00 court fines, drug/alcohol treatment (if necessary ... ), 5 years of probation, mandatory 30-day license suspension and a substantial increase auto insurance rates. Client is a career Navy veteran with rank/privileges granted to him through years of service and hard work. Despite the challenges, I constructed an excellent merit package on client's behalf and presented it to the Prosecutor. As a result, we entered favorable negotiations. The Prosecutor offered dismissal of the case if my client accepted a committed traffic infraction of "Failure to Yield" under RCW 46.61.205 and a $124 fine. Since "Failure to Yield" is not a crime we avoided jail, evaluations, treatment, probation and the mandatory 30-day license suspension associated with Reckless Driving convictions. Additionally, the plea resolution included language preventing a potential lawsuit from the other motorist involved in the accident. Best of all, the resolution preserved my client's military rank and privileges. Client was pleased we resolved the case well before he was deployed to Virgina later this year.

Criminal defense

Rape & Kidnapping First Degree #14-1-004**-6

Aug 11, 2014

OUTCOME: Dismissed All Charges

This was a high profile case involving media attention from the Bellingham Herald and KGMI News radio. Client was charged with Rape in the First Degree and Kidnapping First Degree. Both crimes are Clas ... s A felonies exposing the defendant to a possible life term in prison (25 years), lifelong registration as a sex offender, restitution to the victim, and potentially $50,000.00 in court fines. The alleged victim reported the defendant and another male coerced her into a car and forcibly raped her outside of a house party they all attended earlier. Despite the allegations, the client claimed the sexual acts were consensual. The victim's Rape Kit medical examination showed no evidence of forced sexual assault. The victim's blood analysis also revealed strong evidence of intoxicants in her system. While the case was pending, Mr. Ransom persuaded the judge to lower the defendant's bail because he had no prior criminal history. Later, Mr. Ransom successfully argued a Motion to Compel an interview with the alleged victim (for more insights on this pretrial motion please read Mr. Ransom's Legal Guide describing a Motion to Compel). He also successfully entered an Omnibus Order directing the Prosecutor to provide all of their pretrial discovery early and before the trial date (police reports, photographs, witness statements, medical reports, etc.). Later, it was discovered the victim did not want to cooperate with investigations. The case proceeded to jury trial. However, in light of the lack of evidence; substantive defenses and uncooperative victim, the State dismissed all charges.

Criminal defense

Theft Second Degree # 13-1-004**-4

Jul 17, 2014

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Client was charged with Felony Theft Second Degree following allegations of taking expensive items from a department store. Unfortunately, client risked losing his gainful employment if he was convicte ... d of the charges. Despite the challenges, we negotiated a favorable resolution allowing dismissal of the case after 1 year via Deferred Prosecution. To earn the dismissal, Client agreed to avoid any more criminal charges and/or convictions, enter counseling and complete 16 hours of community service (client did not serve any jail time). The Deferred Prosecution resolution is extremely favorable, and rarely seen in felony courts nowadays.

Criminal defense

Hit and Run Attended Vehicle #4Z00162**

Jul 15, 2014

OUTCOME: Dismissed

While driving his vehicle, Client accidentally bumped into another motorist's rear bumper. Client got out of his car, inspected the alleged victim's vehicle, and tried discussing the matter civilly. Th ... e alleged victim immediately argued with Client and got on her cell phone. Seeing no damage to her vehicle - and believing she was calling a friend or family member to possibly arrive and assault him - Client drove his vehicle away from the scene. Later, police contacted Client. He was cited for Hit & Run Attended Vehicle under RCW 46.52.020. This crime is a gross misdemeanor punishable up to 1 year in jail, a $5,000.00 fine and a 30-day license suspension. Worse, a criminal conviction could have motivated the alleged victim to file a lawsuit against Client. Mr. Ransom contacted the alleged victim in an effort to compensate her and dismiss the case under the Compromise of Misdemeanor components of RCW 10.22. Unfortunately, her demands were outrageously unreasonable and unsubstantiated by any estimates. Next, Mr. Ransom filed and drafted a Knapstad motion to dismiss under the argument that Client did, in fact, contact the alleged victim after the incident happened and did not simply drive away. The filing of the Knapstad Motion started fruitful negotiations with the Prosecutor. We entered a Stipulated Order of Continuance allowing dismissal of the case after one year of good behavior, 16 hours of community service and $500 restitution payment to the alleged victim. All parties were satisfied with the outcome.

Criminal defense

Reckless Driving & Disorderly Conduct #CB-814**

Jul 07, 2014

OUTCOME: Dismissed All Charges

Client charged with Reckless Driving under RCW 46.51.500 and Disorderly Conduct under RCW 9A.84.030. The Reckless Driving charge is a gross misdemeanor punishable up to 1 year in jail, a $5,000.00 fine ... and a 30-day license suspension. Client was sitting in his car and patiently waiting for the newly-trained boat launch authorities to process him and his boat. Client allegedly began cursing at the boat launch guards and aggressively drove his vehicle away from the launch line. The guards contacted the police. They cited client for Reckless Driving and Disorderly Conduct. Mr. Ransom interviewed the witnesses and police officers. It became clear the newly-opned boat launch was a chaotic mess which frustrated many of the patrons; and not just my client. The City dismissed all charges.

Criminal defense

Reckless Endangerment #4Z00230**

Jun 18, 2014

OUTCOME: Full Jury Acquittal

Client charged with two counts of Reckless Endangerment under 9A.36.050. This is a gross misdemeanor punishable up to a year in jail and a $5,000.00 fine. The allegations involved dangerous "road rage" ... driving. Through its witnesses, the Prosecutor argued my client tried to run the victims off the road with his vehicle. At trial, the witnesses testified they were neighbors with my client and had negative relations with him. We successfully showed the alleged victims lacked credibility. We also questioned the lack of evidence. The jury was convinced the case was an unproveable "He said / She said" conflict. They acquitted all charges in 8 minutes.

Criminal defense

Assault Fourth Degree #3Z01560**

May 23, 2014

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Client charged with Assault following a debacle at a local tavern. Supposedly, the alleged victim was an active member of the PTA. Consequently, the Prosecutor did not believe the defendant responded i ... n self-defense to being punched in the face by the alleged victim. Mr. Ransom successfully obtained medical records and photographic evidence showing the defendant suffered a broken nose during the incident. Mr. Ransom also successfully obtained a court order compelling the Prosecutor to disclose the criminal histories of the victim and witnesses. Through these pretrial motions and investigations, Mr. Ransom discovered the "alleged victim" and witnesses had prior criminal convictions showing assaultive behavior and crimes of dishonesty. This evidence crippled the City's case. Under Washington's Evidence Rule #609, Mr. Ransom may impeach witnesses on their prior crimes of dishonesty and felony convictions if they testified at trial. Also, under WPIC #1, Mr. Ransom may attack the credibility of the City's witnesses in Closing Argument before the jury. Instead, the Prosecutor and Mr. Ransom avoided trial and entered favorable negotiations. The case was dismissed pursuant to a Deferred Sentence.

Criminal defense

Malicious Mischief Third Degree #4Z2678**

May 07, 2014

OUTCOME: Dismissed

Client was walking his dog on a dog trial. The alleged victim was sitting in a vehicle blocking the trail. Client asked the man to move his vehicle off the trail. The two argued. The motorist started h ... is car and aggressively drove it toward my client in an intimidating fashion. Fearing for his life, my client stepped aside and simultaneously shattered the motorist's car windshield with his elbow. Client said he responded in self defense to the motorist's driving, and that elbowing the windshield was done out of necessity. The Prosecutor and I negotiated a dismissal in light of client's affirmative defenses.

Alexander Floyd Ransom's Legal Cases (153)

Assault Fourth Degree Domestic Violence #CB893**

Shoplifting #CB917**

Reckless Driving #4Z5684**

Rape & Kidnapping First Degree #14-1-004**-6

Theft Second Degree # 13-1-004**-4

Hit and Run Attended Vehicle #4Z00162**

Reckless Driving & Disorderly Conduct #CB-814**

Reckless Endangerment #4Z00230**

Assault Fourth Degree #3Z01560**

Malicious Mischief Third Degree #4Z2678**